The Press., 1887-04-07
MR. PHINEAs MARVEL.

stitutional headache and mild, meek way of taking the world as it came to her. For fifty years she had battled against misfortune, until the warfare had become second nature to her. & .ssBut there's one blessing that have to be thankful for" she would say. oMr. Marvel has kept true to me through 1t all as the needle to the pole." From this it may be inferred that MT. Marvel was lover of the little widow. Far from 1t. He was only her best board er-the boarder who for half score of years had occupied her ''frst floor front, 7 and paid his bills as regularly as the Sat urdaynight came around ts
 He was bachelor, as may be ssuppos- ed-a man who was as full of whfms and caprices as an egg is of meat, yet who carried kindly heart in his bosom be- meath 1t all.
 But on this special Friday morning his eyes blazed wrathfullyT-the tip of bis nose hung forth a crimson flag of indig- nation as Mrs. Hyde came meekly into his presence.
 "A months warning ma'am," was all that he said ss e@a 7T@Tt s-.' sa9e Mrs Hyde caught at the nearest chair for support. j. 5 '' >.s'a a5 -5'' s7'5'
 ''Mr. Marvel !" she gasped.
 'sNow, ma'am, 1t isn't at all worth while to go through any scenes" said the bachelor, callously. ''I am practical man, as you ought to know by this time. And Pm not in theahabit of wasting words. Put up bill, Advertise. Let your room as soon as you can, for l move out tomorrow, although, as a token of respect for your many good qualities, shall pay my bills up to the i first of June." 'Ia, MT: Marvels afaintly calculated the widow. "How can have possibly offended you 7's gag .-.'a'1 <.ss'5 z-.& s7..
 stAsk your own conscience, ma'am ]! sternly retorted Mr Marvel. '''-' ''-'.
 "Because if it's on account of Patty and her babies"
 .ssIt is precisely on that account, ma'am. I was walked last night by the screaming of a child" -3.. . .e. j..
 ''It's cutting teeth, poor dear" inter rupted Mrs. Hyde .s.a ;asr ~.ssaA -
 'And this morning on making in quiries," relentlessly went on the bache' 1lor, q learned that you had actually taken in your widowed niece and hel twin babies. Twins, ma'am One would have been enough--too much, in fact Ebut when it comes to twins"
 s'Patty had nowhere else to go, sir,' said Mrs Hyde, apologetically, ''anc she'll be useful around the house. Patty: a good girl, sir !'...sa.,....ussa- ?. ...ss .s..
 q dare say," said MT. Marvel. ''Bu I can't stay in the house with twins-so as I before remarked, put up bill a: soon as you please" "as., sas4yf"s ta.ee..7..
 "Please, sir, I'll put Patty and the children on the top floor, where they cant possibly disturb you, if"
 ''@ "I tell you once for all, ma'am, tha II can't tolerate children, and I won't Will you be kind enough to leave now2'
 So Mrs. Hyde went down stairs tc burst into tears, back to the pantry door where Patty Smith, with one twin tiet in the high chair and the other swarm ing over the floor, like magnihec beetle, was beating eggs for the dinner custard.
 "Aunty, what's the matterp de manded Patty, still whisking vigorously away at the custard.
 >"He's going, my dear"
 s'Who7 Mr. sMarvel9" 1& -~>
 ssYes."
 ''Well, let him go, .aunty,". said Patty cheerfuIy. She was a dimpled, prettl little lady. with pleasant black eyes, anS black hair, parted low on her forehead not quite twenty in spite ofher widow d hood and her, twins. J, ej. sg.s F. fls
 ''Its cheerful room-you'll soon fl up the vacancy. vrfygr,yy -.s =,
 ''But not with such man as Phinea Marvel groaned Mrs. Hyde. "Oh, Pat ty! you don't know hirn." ,.'....z....-@ T 'I know he must be a crusty ole piece, aunty, or he never would objec ] to the dear, darling little babies" said Patty, with loving glance at the twins sE"DoR fret, now, there's dear Ifll al come right, see if it don't, I'll write a1 advertisement myself, and take it down t the newspaper office this very afternoon.
 So MT. Marvel packed up his goods and left, and Mrs. Hyde cried.
 AUScOnlS SuSn F PaCyS Ssau SAeS AAsdl ten years P x Ea8Sas% f2 E8a@ 2@et w
 sl'Don't mind it, aunty," said the cour ageous Patty. 'sI'm sure he must be ( selfish creature, or he would never serve you SO.
 Hardly 8 month had elapsed when sour -visaged woman came to the. Hyde house and requested an audience with the mistress thereof.
 ''You know old Marvel, I suppose?' said she. @s as- @=4s %s4s A--~E .sr
 sI know MT. Phineas Marvel" answer ed Mrs. Hyde, with dignity.
 s'Weh, itssall the same, ? retorted she oi the calculated countenance. "He's board. led at our house three weeks and four days: He's down with the smallpox."es rsss
 "Oh, 1nyI' calculated Mrs. Hyde. "Poor, dear soul. And who takes care oi Lhim ?" ea t=yx ~...a a5 @tThat's just the very question, " said the visitor ''I can't. I've got my own fam. Lily, as meyer shas had the smallpox, ta think of-and the other boarders has all cleared out, and the dootor don't knoW ol no one that would be willing to undertake the risk. Traps you could come ?" 'a
 Mrs. Hyde visibly recoiled.
 s'N-no r 5shea answered. "I would rather not. As you say yourself, great risk to run, and"
 But Patty Smith, who had listened in silence heretofore, stepped forward. sr , 9TH go, aunty, said she, 'sif you'll take